(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) hereof, public works and
infrastructure projects and other facilities, programs and services funded by the
National Government under the annual General Appropriations Act, other special
laws, pertinent executive orders, and those wholly or partially funded from foreign
sources, are not covered under this Section, except in those cases where the local
government unit concerned is duly designated as the implementing agency for such
projects, facilities, programs and services. [Emphases supplied]
The essence of this express reservation of power by the national government is that, unless
an LGU is particularly designated as the implementing agency, it has no power over a
program for which funding has been provided by the national government under the annual
general appropriations act, even if the program involves the delivery of basic services within
the jurisdiction of the LGU.269 A complete relinquishment of central government powers on
the matter of providing basic facilities and services cannot be implied as the Local
Government Code itself weighs against it.270
In this case, a reading of the RH Law clearly shows that whether it pertains to the
establishment of health care facilities,271 the hiring of skilled health professionals,272 or the
training of barangay health workers,273 it will be the national government that will provide for
the funding of its implementation. Local autonomy is not absolute. The national government
still has the say when it comes to national priority programs which the local government is
called upon to implement like the RH Law.
Moreover, from the use of the word "endeavor," the LG Us are merely encouraged to provide
these services. There is nothing in the wording of the law which can be construed as making
the availability of these services mandatory for the LGUs. For said reason, it cannot be said
that the RH Law amounts to an undue encroachment by the national government upon the
autonomy enjoyed by the local governments.
The ARMM
The fact that the RH Law does not intrude in the autonomy of local governments can be
equally applied to the ARMM. The RH Law does not infringe upon its autonomy. Moreover,
Article III, Sections 6, 10 and 11 of R.A. No. 9054, or the organic act of the ARMM, alluded to
by petitioner Tillah to justify the exemption of the operation of the RH Law in the
autonomous region, refer to the policy statements for the guidance of the regional
government. These provisions relied upon by the petitioners simply delineate the powers
that may be exercised by the regional government, which can, in no manner, be
characterized as an abdication by the State of its power to enact legislation that would
benefit the general welfare. After all, despite the veritable autonomy granted the ARMM, the
Constitution and the supporting jurisprudence, as they now stand, reject the notion of
imperium et imperio in the relationship between the national and the regional
governments.274 Except for the express and implied limitations imposed on it by the
Constitution, Congress cannot be restricted to exercise its inherent and plenary power to
legislate on all subjects which extends to all matters of general concern or common
interest.275
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